Burnout?

[Unobtanium]

I bought some white leghorn, buff orpingtons, and black star chickens. Got them from a local Atwoods guy who likely got them from a hatchery as sold to atwoods. How long can I expect egg production to last? Are these "pure" (except the stars), or are they single purpose layers meant to burn out fast and unnatural, or what?

 

[Sneebsey]

All chickens will burn-out eventually. There's a theory that they can only produce so many eggs, so a bird, like your Buff Orpingtons, who lays fewer eggs each year, will lay for longer than your Leghorns or BSLs, who lay more eggs in a year. That said, there are exceptions and a lot of it depends on breeding.

Both White Leghorns and Buff Orpingtons are true breeds.

PS: The third Leghorn back (in front of the feeder) looks like a cockerel.

 

[Unobtanium]

All chickens will burn-out eventually. There's a theory that they can only produce so many eggs, so a bird, like your Buff Orpingtons, who lays fewer eggs each year, will lay for longer than your Leghorns or BSLs, who lay more eggs in a year. That said, there are exceptions and a lot of it depends on breeding.

Both White Leghorns and Buff Orpingtons are true breeds.

PS: The third Leghorn back (in front of the feeder) looks like a cockerel.

He is so how long can I expect each of mine to lay, if avg? So if my cock mates with the hen, leghorn, it will create another bird just like themselves?

 

[Sneebsey]

Glad that I wasn't bringing bad news there!

If he breeds a Leghorn hen, and they are both well bred birds, then yes, you should get more white Leghorns.

I would expect at least a few years out of them, and even then they will still lay, just less regularly; I have an eight year old hen that still lays about two eggs a week. With the Leghorns and the BSLs, you may start to see reproductive issues after 4-5 years. If you're looking to sustainably produce eggs, I would add new birds (and as you have your cockerel, you can hatch your own) every 2-3 years to ensure a good supply.

I run a mixed flock in this manner, hatching out every year and retaining pullets for production whilst still keeping my older hens. I never keep a cockerel hatched from my own eggs, but rather buy in hatching eggs (I run a closed flock) and keep a cockerel from those whenever I need one; in this way I am able to maintain a good amount of genetic diversity to avoid inbreeding.

 

[Trish1974]

I like your hot wire along the bottom of your coop! You got right on that, didn't you?! (I remember your other thread).

 

[Unobtanium]

I like your hot wire along the bottom of your coop! You got right on that, didn't you?! (I remember your other thread).

I'm a very decisive and "violence of action" type person

Glad that I wasn't bringing bad news there!

If he breeds a Leghorn hen, and they are both well bred birds, then yes, you should get more white Leghorns.

I would expect at least a few years out of them, and even then they will still lay, just less regularly; I have an eight year old hen that still lays about two eggs a week. With the Leghorns and the BSLs, you may start to see reproductive issues after 4-5 years. If you're looking to sustainably produce eggs, I would add new birds (and as you have your cockerel, you can hatch your own) every 2-3 years to ensure a good supply.

I run a mixed flock in this manner, hatching out every year and retaining pullets for production whilst still keeping my older hens. I never keep a cockerel hatched from my own eggs, but rather buy in hatching eggs (I run a closed flock) and keep a cockerel from those whenever I need one; in this way I am able to maintain a good amount of genetic diversity to avoid inbreeding.

Not bad news at all. Also, how good of a protector and sentinel does this breed of cock make? Will he be an asset, or just racket?

 

[Sneebsey]

I've never had a pure Leghorn cockerel, so I can't help there really. That said, a lot depends on the bird itself, how it was raised and an aspect of how traits were selected in its' ancestry. Since a lot of those traits will be an unknown to you, I would wait and see how he behaves as he matures. When you bring feed or treats, does he chuckle and call for the hens to eat first? Is he gentle with the hens, waiting until they show receptiveness rather than jumping them unawares? Does he keep a watchful eye on you without showing aggression or advancing menacingly? Does he refrain from crowing or breeding hens when you, the top rooster, are around? These are all good traits for a respectful breeding cockerel.

 

[Unobtanium]

I've never had a pure Leghorn cockerel, so I can't help there really. That said, a lot depends on the bird itself, how it was raised and an aspect of how traits were selected in its' ancestry. Since a lot of those traits will be an unknown to you, I would wait and see how he behaves as he matures. When you bring feed or treats, does he chuckle and call for the hens to eat first? Is he gentle with the hens, waiting until they show receptiveness rather than jumping them unawares? Does he keep a watchful eye on you without showing aggression or advancing menacingly? Does he refrain from crowing or breeding hens when you, the top rooster, are around? These are all good traits for a respectful breeding cockerel.

He runs from me. I caught him and petted him. Thats about it. I've seen no difference in and a hen other than he crowed once one morning.

 

[Sneebsey]

He's still a baby; you'll start to see the boy behaviours creeping in. A great way to train your birds to come to you is to scatter treats; mine seem to think that butter containers are automatically filled with joy and race across the field to me. It can be pretty intimidating when there's fifty-odd chickens running full pelt at you.

If a cockerel gets to close for comfort, or shows menacing behaviour, or crows near me, I advance on him to show him who's boss. If he squares off, he gets picked up and carried around on his back like a baby. It's all about ensuring that you are the top rooster.